The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-17
BEAR AND FORBEAR.
BY WILLIS BOYD ALLEN.

"Dick, I wish you'd go over to the
Black Mountain pasture with me this
afternoon, and get some blackberries."
"Oh, don't want to drag way off there,
Ed. Why can't you go alone?"
A shadow passed over Edns's pretty
face. It was not 30 much for disappoint-
ment at the loss of her brothers COM
pany as the thought that he did not care
to please her.
II wish you'd come, Dick. It's SO far to
go alone"
Take the dog with you, if you want
company. I'm awfully tired"
"Im sorry" said Edna simply, as she
turned away; but Dick felt that the
words covered good deal. "Come, Bru-
mop he heard her call; and his heart
,smote him when he saw how eagerly the
big Newfoundland bounded to her side
and begged to carry the pail. In mo-
ment more, the patient little figure and
the clumsy, gamboling dog passed
through the bars at the end OF the lane,
and out OF sight
The Bramans lived in East Brookville,
a thriving village in the extreme north
ern part of New Hampshire. 1t was one
of the few districts not yet reached by
railroad: and an old.fashioned stage lum-
bered heavily up to the tavern door
every noon, as it had ever since the days
of the colonies.
In the village we're neat white houses.
with front yards full OF hollyhocks, four
o'clocks and marigolds; blacksmith
shop, two meeting houses" mill run
by water. power, and the old tavern.
Roundabout the outlying farms and
brook. threaded meadows, the foothills
of the White Mountain range rose in
gentle sweeps, their slopes covered with
maple orchards, shading gradually up
ward into pines, frs and hemlocks.
Dick knew that the pasture where
Edna was going was lonely spot, two
or three miles from any house. He felt
sure that she had planned to have q
pleasant walk with him and jolly time
boys sister, he would have seen plainly
that it was both impolite and uDkind to
refuse; but it was only Ed. Dick loved
her dearly,-he had often thought how
he would bear her through smoke and
flame out of burning house; but he had
not yet learned to do the little, every
day things which make life sweet for
those we love. Edna was taller and older
than he to be sure; but, dear me! he had
felt quite as old as his father ever since
his fourteenth birthday.
1t was sultry afternoon, late in Au-
gust, intensely hot, with not breath
stirring. Dick was uncomfortable in
body and mind. The very next morning
his sister was going to town some miles
away to teach school.
At last, the boys better impulses were
fairly uppermost; and tossing his cap on
the back of his head, he started "across
lots" for Black Mountain pasture. He
had not gone many rods before he caught
sight of a dozen men and boys, armed
with guns and clubs, burrying along
in the same direction.
"Whst's up?" he called, changing his
course little, so as to join the others.
"Come our shouted two or three.
"Great fun this afternoon. Jack Man
ming saw a bears tracks DOWN his
meadow this mornin' He'd been foolin'
round the rabbit snares, an we're going
to kill him."
"Ohl he'll be gone before nowP
mo, he won't. Jack says he won't
strike for the mountains before night,
sure. Likes not he'll stop over'n the
huckleberry pasture, its 80 hot"
Dicks heart stood still for moment.
Right where Ed. was goingl 1t was near
ly an hour since she had started. Per-
haps-
He did not stop to reason it out any
more.
81 wish you'd hurry" he painted, as
he caught up with the leaders, ana ran
along beside them. He did not like to
confess that he had let his sister go alone.
"Come on, then. HurrahP' and away
they went, faster than ever, toward Black
Mountain.